politics

Actor-turned politician Taro Yamamoto aims for real-life starring role

13 Comments
By Linda Sieg and Kiyoshi Takenaka

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Reiwa was set up three months before the July 21 upper house poll. It joined a fragmented opposition camp with a platform heavy on policies aimed at those who remain socially marginalised and economically struggling despite almost seven years of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's "Abenomics" policies to revive growth.

"Socially marginalized?" If you only focus on them, you will always be a minor opposition to the main stream here. Include those who are becoming more and more "marginalized" economically as well, and watch your party's membership explode!

Japan sorely needs a viable opposition and maybe your party could be the one! So far so good, but stay the hell away from making yourselves a carbon copy of the LDP!

Yamamoto said his priority for inter-party cooperation was agreeing to cut the sales tax to at least 5% in order to relieve the burden on the less-well-off and boost consumption.

I would vote for you for this one,

Cutting taxes would INCREASE tax revenue, not put the economy into another recession or worse! Japanese consumers have a HUGE amount of money sitting in savings, and they would start to use it if they saw systematic improvements and increased consumer spending would be sustainable and lead to positive growth!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I think Taro Yamamoto is the bright light in Japan's politics.His viewpoints sound refreshing and promising.He seems to be light years away from the average Japanes politician living in his,not often her,entitled bubble.

Well done so far,sir.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Yamamoto had a hopeful start, but degraded into an attention seeking populist. His “you said that, so I’m gonna say the opposite” (as seen in his refusal to sign the document to recognize ISIS as terrorist organization) approach has its limits.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Comedians are best politicians, because they are jokes.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Comedians are best politicians, because they are jokes.

Dont underestimate the intelligence of many of the "comedians" here in Japan. Quite a few are probably smarter and better able to run this country than the current group who lead it now!

But, most probably wouldn't want to, because who really wants all the headaches!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

well if trump can be president then why wouldn't yamamoto be politician also don't forget that Ukrainian comedian who became their president.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Hideo “Sonomamma” Higashikokubaru was a comedian who wasn’t exactly famous for family-friendly humor, but he pretty much put Miyazaki back on the map.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Hideo “Sonomamma” Higashikokubaru was a comedian who wasn’t exactly famous for family-friendly humor, but he pretty much put Miyazaki back on the map.

He was quite a good governor for Miyazaki.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Cutting taxes would INCREASE tax revenue, not put the economy into another recession or worse!

bahaha...you think that's the main reason why consumers aren't spending? forgive me if i don't question your degree in economics, but you might want to look at stagnant wages and a bleak economic outlook for the future as the main reasons why consumers don't spend. but yeah, you certainly know more than these so called experts with real degrees.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

bahaha...you think that's the main reason why consumers aren't spending? forgive me if i don't question your degree in economics, but you might want to look at stagnant wages and a bleak economic outlook for the future as the main reasons why consumers don't spend. but yeah, you certainly know more than these so called experts with real degrees.

And you are going to try and sit here and tell me RAISING taxes is going to do any good?

There is a direct connection between lowing taxes and and increase in spending, and one doesnt need a degree in economics to know that either!

Never said it was the "main" reason either, you just need to put words into people's mouths to attempt to make a point!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This is what I was talking about with the article on the two severely disabled politicians; while it's amazing they got to where they all are, what qualifications do they have? What is this guy's skill besides entertaining a small audience? Sure, cutting the consumption tax back to 5% is something I could stand behind (were I able to vote), but absolutely no mention of how to make up the shortfall, like a simple "cut defense spending" and justify it with the pact with the US.

And, of course, give him a few more months and he'll look to form a coalition with a major party. They'll lose, it'll disband, and he'll change the name and repeat. And it's a very lousy party name, too.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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